Identification of genes having a role in the presentation of diabetic nephropathy

ABSTRACT

A method for identifying a gene having a role in the presentation of diabetic nephropathy comprises culturing mesangial cells in the presence of a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce differential expression, especially up-regulation, of a gene susceptible to such differential expression and identifying the gene so induced. The cells are also optionally subjected to mechanical strain and/or TGF-β1 can be added to the culture medium. The differentially expressed genes can be identified by suppression subtractive hybridisation. The method has resulted in the identification of novel genes which play a role in the presentation of diabetic nephropathy. The genes can be used as diagnostic markers for diabetic nephropathy and as the basis of drug development programmes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the characterisation and identification of genes which play a role in diabetes, more particularly in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy and to the use of genes so characterised and/or identified as diagnostic markers for diabetic nephropathy and as the basis of drug development programmes.

BACKGROUND ART

Between 2-5% of the population develops diabetes mellitus and 20-30% of diabetics develop diabetic nephropathy. The latter accounts for over 30% of end-stage renal failure (E.S.R.F.) requiring dialysis or transplantation in western society. The pathological hallmark of diabetic nephropathy is glomerulosclerosis due to accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the glomerular mesangium. Mesangial matrix accumulation reflects both increased synthesis and decreased degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and correlates with the clinical onset of proteinuria, hypertension and progressive kidney failure. Hyperglycaemia is a major stimulus for mesangial cell matrix production in diabetic nephropathy. The mechanisms by which hyperglycaemia perturb mesangial cell function are still being appreciated and include direct effects of high extracellular glucose levels and indirect effects transduced through alterations in glomerular haemodynamics and through the actions of advanced glycosylation end products.

Propagation of mesangial cells under conditions of high ambient glucose has proved a useful in vitro model with which to probe the molecular basis for mesangial matrix accumulation in diabetes, attributable to hyperglycaemia. Specifically, exposure of cultured mesangial cells to high glucose stimulates de novo synthesis of ECM components, such as type IV collagen, fibronectin and laminin, and other products that are accumulated in vivo (Ayo, S. H., et al. (1990) Am. J. Pathol. 136, 1339-1348; Wahab, N. A., et al. (1996) Biochem. J. 316, 985-992; and Ayo, S. H., et al. (1991) Am. J. Physiol. 260, F185-F191).

In view of the high morbidity and mortality rate from diabetic nephropathy in diabetics there is a need to identify stimuli which affect the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy with the aim of preventing such onset or inhibiting or limiting the progression thereof.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The invention provides a method for identifying a gene having a role in the presentation of diabetic nephropathy, which method comprises culturing mesangial cells in a medium in the presence of a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce differential expression of a gene susceptible to such differential expression and identifying the gene so induced by suppression subtractive hybridisation.

Preferably, the mesangial cells are cultured in the presence of a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce up-regulation of a gene susceptible to such up-regulation.

Further, preferably, the concentration of glucose is greater than 5 mM.

A concentration of 5 nM falls within the normal range of plasma glucose levels in a healthy human subject (4.2-6.4 mmol/l).

The concentration of glucose used is suitably in the range 5-30 mM. The concentration of 30 mM was chosen as the classic “in vitro” model of diabetic nephropathy which induces changes in mesangial function that mimic human disease. This level is also encountered in many diabetics in vivo.

In one embodiment, the mesangial cells are subjected to mechanical strain.

In a further embodiment, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is added to the culture medium.

Suppression subtractive hybridisation (SSH) is a method based on suppressive PCR that allows creation of subtracted cDNA libraries for the identification of genes differentially expressed in response to an experimental stimulus (Gurskaya, N. G., et al. (1996) Anal. Biochem. 240, 90-97). SSH differs from earlier subtractive methods by including a normalisation step that equalises for relative abundance of cDNAs within a target population. This modification should enhance the probability of identifying increased expression of low abundance transcripts, and represents a potential advantage over other methods for identifying differentially regulated genes such as differential display-PCR (DD-PCR) (Liang, P., and Pardee, A. B. (1992) Science 257, 967-97) and cDNA-representation difference analysis (Hubank, M., and Schatz, D. G., (1994) Nucleic Acid Res. 22, 5640-5648).

To date we have used SSH to identify 150 genes differentially induced when human mesangial cells were exposed to high extracellular glucose (defined herein as 30 mM versus 5 mM) in vitro. These genes included:

-   -   (a) known regulators of mesangial cell activation in diabetic         nephropathy, namely fibronectin, caldesmon, thrombospondin and         plasminogen activator inhibitor-1;     -   (b) novel genes; and     -   (c) genes whose induction by high glucose has not previously         been reported as hereinafter described.

Prominent among the latter were genes encoding cytoskeleton-associated proteins and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a modulator of fibroblast matrix production. We have also demonstrated elevated CTGF mRNA levels in glomeruli of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy.

In one aspect of the invention, the possibility of differential expression due to hyperosmolarity is excluded.

Hyperosmolarity is, however, a component of diabetic nephropathy and thus hyperosmolarity may represent a mechanism through which high glucose induces differential expression of certain genes having a role in the presentation of the disease.

For example, we have shown that mannitol provoked less mesangial cell CTGF expression in vitro than high glucose, excluding hyperosmolarity as the key stimulus.

High glucose also stimulated expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and addition of TGF-β1 to mesangial cells triggered CTGF expression. Anti-TGF-β1 antibody blunted CTGF expression induced by high glucose. Together, these data suggest that (1) high glucose stimulates mesangial CTGF expression by TGFβ1-dependent and independent pathways, and (2) CTGF may be a mediator of TGF-β1-driven matrix production within a diabetic milieu.

CTGF may therefore be an attractive target for design of novel anti-sclerotic therapies for diabetic glomerulosclerosis.

CTGF derived from mesangial cells is a potential stimulus for increased synthesis of ECM proteins and mesangial expansion in diabetic nephropathy. The mechanisms by which high glucose triggers mesangial cell CTGF and, indeed, TGF-β, mRNA expression remain to be defined. Possible upstream triggers of CTGF transcription in response to high glucose include de novo synthesis of diacylglcerol (DAG) and subsequent activation of protein kinase C (PKC) (DeRubertis, F. R., and Craven, P., (1994) Diabetes 43, 1-8 and Fumo P., et al. (1994) Am. J. Physiol. 267, F632-F638), non-enzymatic glycation end-products (Brownlee, M., et al. (1984) Ann. Intern. Med 101, 527-537 and Cohen, M. P., and Ziyadeh, F. N. (1994) Kidney Int. 45, 475-484) increased activity of the polyol pathway and disordered myoinositol metabolism (Goldfarb, S., et al. (1991) Diabetes 40, 465-471 1991) or through the recruitment of locally generated growth factors such as TGF-β1 and other mediators. (Sharma K., and Ziyadeh, F. N., (1995) Diabetes 44, 1139-1146).

TGF-β1 has been implicated as the key mediator of extracellular matrix accumulation in diabetic nephropathy and other chronic renal disease. Several studies have reported increased expression of TGF-β1 in renal glomeruli in human and experimental models of diabetes (Park, I., et al. (1997) Diabetes 46, 473-480; Sharma, K., (1996) Diabetes 45, 522-530). Short term administration of TGF-β1 neutralising antibodies attenuates overexpression of mRNAs encoding matrix components and glomerulosclerosis in the STZ mouse model of diabetes (Park, I., et al. (1997) Diabetes 46, 473-480). CTGF shares some of the biological actions of TGF-β1 such as stimulation of cell proliferation and extracellular matrix protein synthesis in fibroblasts. When considered in this context, the results described herein suggest that TGF-β1 may promote mesangial matrix production, in part, by inducing CTGF synthesis. TGF-β1 has a complex profile of biological activities that includes pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. By targeting CTGF it may be possible to attenuate the sclerosis-inducing effects of TGF-β1 while preserving its more desirable anti-inflammatory activities.

Novel genes identified by the method according to the invention are identified herein as IHG (Increased in High Glucose) and DHG (Down in High Glucose) and are represented by genes which include the following sequences 1, 3 and 4: (SEQ ID NO:1) 1)TTGGAATAGTTCTTGCTTTATAAAAATAGTACTGCGATTAAA AAAAAAGCACTTCTGCCAAAGGAACCATGTTCCAACACCGCA AACAAGGTGTTCTGCTTAAACAGAGTAAGATACACCACCCCC ATCCATCCCTTCCTTCCCTGTTCCCCTCCCAACTTGAGTTGTGT CATTCGCACCAGTGTCCTGGGTGGTAGGGATGCTACAGCCAC CTAAGGCAAGGAGCCCTGGGAGGTGGGAGGGCTTGCATGGTT AAGCACACCAGAACTGAAGCGCAAAAGGGTCAGCTGTCTTCA TCTAGAATCTCTGGATGTTCCTTCCAGAAAGCATCCCCGATGA TATCGCAGTGCAAGGGCACTGGCTTTGTCCTGGTCCGGGTCAC TGCCATCTTTTTTCCTTCCATTTCTGTTGGCAGCTTAATTTCTTT TGTCATCACTTCATCCACCTTCTGCCATATCAACACAGTCCCTT TCCTATACATCGGCAGCTCATTATTATAGTTGATGTTGAATTC AGAAAACAAAATCTCATTCTTGTCTGCTGNAAGAGTTCCCTGT AATCTCCCTTGGGCTTGTACTGGTGTTAGTCCAGATTGTTG (SEQ ID NO:2) ........................................... .................................GGTCCTTTAA AGTCTGGTTGCTGGGATACACCACGACTCTTCCGGTCAAAGCC TGGGGGATACAGAAGGGGCTRGTCCTCAAAGTAATCCCGCCA ATAAAACAYATAGCTGGAGGCAAACTGGGAGGYCACGTGAGT CATGAACTTTACTGGCTCTTCTTTTAAACCAATTGGTTTTCCGC TTGWACACAAAGCTGTACTCATCACTCTGTCCATAACGCGAT CACAATATCCTCTAGTTCTTCCATCACAGTCTGCGCACATTTG GTCATCAGCTGGAGAGCACGGCTGTCATTGGGTTTTGCAAAGT TGTGCTTCTCAGCAAACCGATGGAAATTCCGGCCGTCCAGCCG NACTACCACCCAGCAGTGTGCCAGGCAGGTGTCGTCAGCCTC GAAGTCCCTCACGTACTCGAACTTGCTTTTTGCCATGGTCGCC CCCAATCTCAGGTACCGTCTCAGAGTGATGGAAATGGTGGCC AAGGAATCGTGAACCTTAACCTTTACAGGCGCCCCACATTCTAC ACGCGGAAAGGAAAGGGCCAGATAGCCCCGCCCCGGAAGTG TTCTCTTCGTGGCTACTCTAGCCGTAGGGCGGTCATAGTCTCT CTCGSCTCTCCCTGKAGTTCTTAAMCYYCCAGGGAAARAGGA TGGAGGTTTAGGTTCCTCCGTTAGCACCTTCCACGCTTGCTTCT TCCTCCTCCCGGTCTGCGGCAAATCAGTCTCACGAGGTTTTTA AAAATTATTTTTTATCTGCTGGCCTT (SEQ ID NO:3) ............................ATGACACAAATATTAG GATTTTTATTTTTACTATTATCCACCAGCAACAAGATATCAAAC ACTGGTTCTGTGATTATTTAATGGTGAAAAAGTTGAATAAATC AATTTAGTATACCCATATGTTGGAATATTGAGTCCATTTTTCTT TTAAAAATCACACTTTGGAATAATTGATGATACTGGCAAATGC TCAAGCTGAGTGGAAAAATATATAAACATTGTATAGGCGAAT AATTCCAATCTTGTGCATTCCCTGTGTAAACCTACATACACAA AAAGAAAAAAGACTGAAAGGAACCATCCACAATGCTTTGATC GGGAAAGACGGAGAAACAAAGTGTTAATTTTCTTAACTATAG TTTTNGGTGTATTCCAGATTTTCTACAAGTTAATA(IHG-1); (SEQ ID NO:4) 2)GTACTTTGGATTTGGTTAACCTGTTTTCTTCAAGCCTGAGGT TTTATATACAAACTCCCTGAATACTCTTTTTGCCTTGTATCTTC TCAGCCTCCTAGCCAAGTCCTATGTAATATGGAAAACAAACA CTGCAGACTTGAGATTCAGTTGCCGATCAAGGCTCTGGCATTC AGAGAACCCTTGCAACTCGAGAAGCTGTTTTTATTTCGTTTTT GTTTTGATCCAGTGCTCTCCCATCTAACAACTAAACAGGAGCC ATTTCAAGGCGGGAGATATTTTAAACACCCAAAATGGTTGGG TCTGATTTTCAAACTTTTAAAACTTCACTACTGATGATTCTGCA CGCTAAGGCGAATTTGGTCCAAACACATAAGTGTGTGTGTTTT GTATACACTGTATGACCCCACCCCAAATCTTTGTATTGTCCAC ATTCTCC IHG-2; (SEQ ID NO:5) 3)AGAAGCCAATTTAGGAANCCNACAGNAAANAAATGCTGTTTT ATAGCAGAGAAAACACGGCACACCAAGGTTAAGTAGTTTGTA GACGATGTTGAATAGGTTCAGGTACAGGTCAATGCAGTGATG AGGAAAGCACCTANGTATACTTGACAGATAGTCCCCTTTGCTT AACACCCAACTCCTCCACCCTGTGCAGTTTNNCTTGTGCCAGT GATCACAGGATTCGCTGAGTGAATTACCATAATTGGATTTAT TCACGAAGGGGATGTTTTC(IHG-3); and (SEQ ID NO:6) 4)ATTGATAGAGGCCCTGTFFCATGACATTTCATGAGTTTCAAT ATGTTGTTCAGCATGTTGTGAGGTGACTCTCAGCCCCTTTCCC ACTGAGATGGACTGTGGTGATGCTGTGAGGCTGTGACTGACA CACCTTCATGTGCCCAAGCATGGGTTTGATCACAGGTCACATG CAGTTTTTGGCATAGTAAATGTATCATTGTTCTTTTCCTCCCTC CTAAAGGAAACAGAGGAATCCACCTGTATGAGAGTGCCATGT AGGGATAAACTTAAGGACAGATGACACATTGGTCATGTTCG TGATAAGGAAA(DHG-1).

The invention also provides SEQ ID NOS: 1-3, 5 and 6 set out above.

In initial studies the gene IHG-2 was assumed to be new. However, as hereinafter demonstrated IHG-2 was identified as being a formerly unknown part of the gremlin gene. We have found that mesangial cell gremlin mRNA levels are induced by high glucose, cyclic mechanical strain and TGF-β1 in vitro, and gremlin mRNA levels are elevated in the renal cortex of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in vivo. Gremlin expression was observed in parallel with induction of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), a target for gremlin in models of cell differentiation.

Gremlin, together with DAN and cerberus, are members of the cysteine knot super-family of proteins that have recently been shown to play important roles in limb development and neural crest cell differentiation (Hsu, D. R., et al (1998) Mol. Cell. 1, 673-83; Zuniga, A., et al. (1999) Nature 401, 598-602). Of potential interest in the context of diabetic nephropathy, gremlin is a putative inhibitor of BMP-2 in models of neural crest cell differentiation. BMP-2 has recently been reported to have antiproliferative effects on mesangial cells.

The following Examples show that (a) IHG-2 is part of gremlin, (b) gremlin is expressed in diabetic nephropathy in vivo, (c) both glycemic and mechanical strain stimulate mesangial cell gremlin expression in vitro, (d) high glucose induces gremlin, in part, through TGFβ-mediated pathways, and (e) gremlin is a potential endogenous antagonist of BMPs within a diabetic glomerular milieu.

The invention also provides use of a gene identified by the method according to the invention:

-   -   1) as a diagnostic marker for the progression and presentation         of diabetic nephropathy;     -   2) as an index of disease activity and the rate of progression         of diabetic nephropathy; and     -   3) as a basis for identifying drugs for use in the prevention         and/or therapy of diabetic nephropathy.

Thus, it will be appreciated that early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy based on diagnostic markers identified in accordance with the invention can be used in conjunction with aggressive therapies to prevent full blown development of diabetic nephropathy.

The level of expression of genes identified in accordance with the invention could correlate with the degree of disease progression.

Furthermore, genes identified in accordance with the invention can represent novel therapeutic targets for drug development programmes. Once it has been established that a given gene has a designated role in the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy, the development of new therapeutic agents (such as, for example, small molecules, recombinant inhibitors and receptor antagonists) could be designed to inhibit expression of these genes and, thereby, prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Genes identified in accordance with the invention can also be used as a clinical index of progressive renal sclerosis and scarring, as a guide to the response of progressive diabetic nephropathy to therapy and also as markers of the prevention or development thereof.

It is possible to generate mouse knock-out (k/o) models for genes identified in accordance with the invention and to generate diabetic k/o mouse models, (for example by treatment with streptozotocin) and determine if onset of diabetic nephropathy is inhibited, reduced or delayed. Thus one can determine if a given knock-out gene has a definite role in the progression and development of diabetic nephropathy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an autoradiograph of CTGF levels analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 2;

FIG. 2 is a graph of the relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 2;

FIG. 3 is a 2% agarose gel showing ethidium-stained PCR products as described in Example 2;

FIG. 4 is a nucleotide sequence alignment of the rat CTGF transcript and the mouse CTGF homologue fisp 12 as described in Example 3;

FIG. 5 is an amino acid sequence alignment of the rat CTGF transcript and the mouse CTGF homologue fisp 12 as described in Example 3;

FIG. 6 is a 2% agarose gel showing ethidium-stained PCR products as described in Example 3;

FIG. 7 is an autoradiograph of CTGF levels in the presence of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 neutralising antibodies analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 4;

FIG. 8 is a graph of the relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 4;

FIG. 9 is an autoradiograph of CTGF levels in the presence of varying amounts of glucose and TGF-β1 neutralising antibodies analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 4;

FIG. 10 is a graph of the relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 4;

FIG. 11 is an autoradiograph of CTGF levels in the presence of varying amounts of glucose and PKC inhibitor GF102903X analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 4;

FIG. 12 is a graph of the relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 4;

FIG. 13 is a graphical representation of a BLAST output from the EST database as described in Example 6;

FIG. 14 is a graphical representation of the alignment of human gremlin and rat drm when compared using the BLAST algorithm as described in Example 6;

FIG. 15 is the sequence of mesangial cell gremlin cDNA;

FIG. 16 is an autoradiograph of IHG-2, gremlin, fibronectin and GAPDH mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 7;

FIG. 17 is a graph of relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 7;

FIG. 18 is an autoradiograph of gremlin, fibronectin and GAPDH mRNA analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 7;

FIG. 19 is a further graph of relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 7;

FIG. 20 is an autoradiograph of gremlin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex of a STZ-diabetic rat and an age matched control analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 7;

FIG. 21 is a further graph of relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification as described in Example 7;

FIG. 22 is an autoradiograph of gremlin, fibronectin and GAPDH mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot as described in Example 8;

FIG. 23 is a graph of relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification; and

FIG. 24 is a graphical representation of representative reactions of four independent experiments as described in Example 9.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following Examples:

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION EXAMPLE 1 Identification of Mesangial Cell Genes Differentially Induced by High Glucose

a) Cell Culture and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Primary human mesangial cells were cultured as previously reported (Brady, H. R., et al. (1992) Kidney nt. 42, 480-487 and Denton, M. D., et al. (1991) Am. J. Physiol, 261, F1071-F1079). Cells (passage 7-11) were maintained in medLum (Clonetics) containing either 5 mM or 30 mM D-glucose for 7 days. Culture medium was replenished three times during this period to maintain glucose levels in the desired range. To control for the effects of hyperosmolarity, mesangial cells were cultured in media containing 5 mM glucose supplemented with 25 mM mannitol.

Male Munich-Wistar rats (260-290 g, Simonsen Laboratories) were rendered diabetic by treatment with streptozotocin (STZ; Sigma), 50 g/kg, intravenously as described previously (Zatz, R., et al. (1985). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 82, 5963-5967). At months 2 and 4 after induction of diabetic nephropathy (DN), rats were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital (50 mg/kg), and the right kidney was excised and weighed immediately. Glomeruli were isolated from renal cortex by the standard sieving method (Brady, H. R. et al. (1992) and Denton, M. D. et al. (1991) supra). Glomerular isolation was completed within 20 minutes of removing the kidney. RNA extraction proceeded immediately thereafter.

b) RNA Isolation

Polyadenlyated RNA was isolated from mesangial cells using the Microfast Track (Microfast Track is a Trade Mark) kit (Invitrogen). Total RNA was isolated from glomeruli using RNAzol solution (TEL-test Inc.).

c) Suppression Subtractive Hybridisation (SSH)

SSH was performed with the PCR-SELECT cDNA subtraction kit (Clontech) as directed by the manufacturer with the modification that a four-fold greater than recommended amount of driver cDNA was added to the second hybridisation. Starting material consisted of 2 μg of mesangial cell mRNA cultured in 30 mM D-glucose for 7 days as “tester” and 2 μg of mesangial cell mRNA cultured in 5 mM D-glucose for 7 days as “driver”. Thirty primary PCR cycles and 12 secondary PCR cycles were performed.

d) Cloning and Sequencing of cDNAs

PCR products generated by SSH were subcloned into the PCR 2.1 vector using the original TA cloning kit (Invitrogen). Subcloned cDNAs were isolated by colony PCR amplification. Sequencing was performed using an automated ABI 370A DNA sequencing system. Sequence reactions were carried out with the ABI prism dye terminator cycle sequencing ready reaction kit (Perkin Elmer). The sequences obtained were compared against GenBank/EMBL and Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) databases using BLAST searches.

SSH analysis suggested differential induction of 16 mRNAs in primary cultures of human mesangial cells propagated for 7 days in 30 mM glucose. Northern Blots performed using formaldehyde denaturation according to standard protocols and quantitated using a Phosphor Imager (Biorad) confirmed differential expression of fifteen of the sixteen subcloned fragments as indicated in Table 1. In Table 1^(a) refers to the sequence identity based on comparisons with the Genbank/EMBL database;

-   -   ^(b) refers to an estimate of the size (kb) of the mRNA         identified by Northern Blot analysis; and

^(c) refers to the differential expression of each gene based on Northern Blot analysis of primary human mesangial cells cultured under indicated conditions relative to expression in cells cultured in 5 mM glucose. Values were obtained by Phosphor-Imaging and were normalised by comparison with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (*, detected in mesangial cells cultured in 5 mM glucose+25 mM mannitol and 30 mM glucose, but not in 5 mM glucose, fold expression is degree of expression relative to that found in 5 mM glucose). TABLE 1 Summary of cDNAs identified by SSH as being induced in mesangial cells cultured in high glucose. Differential Expression^(c) 25 mM 30 mM mannitol + 5 mM Gene^(a) mRNAkb^(b) glucose glucose Extracellular Matrix Proteins Fibronectin 7.0 2.1-fold 1.5-fold Thrombospondin 6.0 7.0-fold 8.0-fold Actin-Binding Proteins MRLC 0.9 3.9-fold 1.6-fold T-plastin 1.2 4.2-fold 1.8-fold Caldesmon 3.6 3.3-fold 2.8-fold Profilin 1.0 2.2-fold 2.3-fold CAP 2.6 1.5-fold 1.7-fold ARP3 2.5 2.0-fold 1.0-fold Growth Factors CTGF 2.4 3.0-fold 1.5-fold Others PAI-1 2.0 1.2-fold 1.0-fold 3.0 3.9-fold 2.0-fold RBM3 1.5 1.8-fold 1.4-fold Ubiquitin 3.0 2.3-fold 1.7-fold TCTP 0.8 4.3-fold 2.5-fold IHG-1 3.4 * * IHG-2 2.5 2.0-fold 2.0-fold

Sequence analysis revealed induction of four genes implicated previously in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy: fibronectin, caldesmon, PAI-1, and thrombospondin. Of eleven other cDNA fragments, one encoded a novel gene, designated herein as IHG-1 and ten encoded known genes, including IHG-2 as hereinafter described, whose induction by high glucose had not been reported previously. Prominent among the latter genes were connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and several cytoskeleton-associated proteins, namely profilin, caldesmon, adenyl cyclase-associated protein (CAP), actin-related protein-3 (ARP3), T-plastin, and myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC). Subsequent studies focused on induction of CTGF, a regulator of matrix production in several model systems as described in Examples 2 and 3. The prominence of genes encoding multiple actin-binding proteins is also noteworthy, given recent reports implicating F-actin disassembly in the pathogenesis of mesangial cell dysfunction and glomerular hypertension in diabetic nephropathy (Zhou, X., et al. (1995) Lab. Invest. 73, 372-383 and Zhou, X. Lai, et al. (1997) Kidney Int. 51, 1797-1808). The induction of profilin expression is particularly interesting given its role as a regulator of actin polymerization under conditions of cell stress (Sohn, R. H. and Goldschmidt-Clermont, P. J. (1994) Bioessays 16, 465-472).

Within a diabetic milieu, high glucose levels may perturb cellular function through glucose-specific actions or by increasing the osmolarity of extracellular fluids. The role of hyperosmolarity as a mediator of gene induction by high glucose was assessed by comparing mRNA levels, as determined by Northern Blot, in cells cultured in either 30 mM glucose or in 5 mM glucose supplemented with 25 mM mannitol. High glucose was more effective than high osmolarity at inducing expression of CTGF, myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC), actin related protein 3 (ARP3), T-plastin and translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP). High glucose and mannitol-induced hyperosmolarity afforded equivalent induction of the other products.

EXAMPLE 2 CTGF Expression in Mesangial Cells Cultured in High Glucose

a) Influence of High Ambient Glucose on CTGF mRNA Levels in Human Mesangial Cells.

CTGF, is a 38 kD cysteine-rich secreted peptide known to modulate ECM production in some extrarenal cell types. In Example 1, SSH analysis identified a cDNA fragment of 250 bp which was identical to bases 814-1061 of the human CTGF cDNA. Induction of CTGF mRNA expression in primary human mesangial cells cultured in high glucose was investigated by Northern Blotting as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 the lanes represent the following:

-   -   Lane 1: RNA from mesangial cells exposed to 5 mM glucose;     -   Lane 2: RNA from mesangial cells exposed to 5 mM glucose and 25         mM mannitol;     -   Lane 3: RNA from mesangial cells exposed to 30 mM glucose for         seven days.

A 2.4 kb band was detected following hybridisation with the CTGF probe. The relative amounts of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification are indicated in FIG. 2. All of the values were normalised to GAPDH levels and the results are representative of three independent experiments.

The results indicate that CTGF mRNA expression was between 2.5-3.3-fold higher in mesangial cells cultured in 30 mM glucose as compared with 5 mM glucose.

b) Effect of CTGF on Mesangial Cell Matrix Production.

To investigate the direct effects of CTGF up-regulation on matrix production, in particular the effect on collagens I and IV and fibronectin, mesangial cells were incubated with recombinant CTGF protein.

Mesangial cells were serum starved for 24 hr in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 0.5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and then exposed to rhCTGF (8 ng/ml) (a generous gift from Dr. Gary Grotendorst) for 24 hr (Kreisberg, J. I. and Ayo, S. H. (1993). Kidney Int. 43, 109-113). Total RNA was extracted and chromosomal DNA was removed using DNase 1 (Gibco-BRL). Equal amounts of cDNA were subsequently amplified by PCR using specific primers for GAPDH (Gen/EMBL accession no. AJ005371, sense: ACCACAGTCCATGCCATCAC (SEQ ID NO: 7); antisense: TCCACCACCCTGTTGCTGTA (SEQ ID NO: 8), Collagen I (Gen/EMBL accession no. X55525, sense: GGTCTTCCTGGCTTAAAGGG (SEQ ID NO: 9); antisense: GCTGGTCAGCCCTGTAGAAG (SEQ ID NO: 10)), Collagen IV (Gen/EMBL accession no. M11315, sense: CCAGGAGTTCCAGGATTTCA (SEQ ID NO: 11); antisense: TTTTGGTCCCAGAAGGACAC (SEQ ID NO: 12) and fibronectin (Gen/EMBL accession no. X02761, sense: CGAAATCACAGCCAGTAG (SEQ ID NO. 13), antisense: ATCACATCCACACGGTAG (SEQ ID NO: 14)).

FIG. 3 depicts ethidium-stained panels of a 2% (w/v) agarose gel containing 10 μl of each PCR reaction after electrophoresis.

In FIG. 3 the lanes represent the following:

-   -   Lane 1: RT-PCR products from mesangial cells cultured in RPMI         1640 and 0.5% FBS;     -   Lane 2: RT-PCR products from mesangial cells exposed to rhCTGF         (8 ng/ml) for 24 hr.

These results indicate that rhCTGF up-regulates mesangial cell collagens I and IV and fibronectin. These proteins typify matrix accumulation as seen in diabetic nephropathy.

CTGF is a member of a small family of highly homologous proteins termed the CCN family (for CTGF/fisp-12, ceflo/cyr61 and Nov) (Bork, P (1993). FEBS Letts. 327, 125-130.). These peptides are characterised by conservation of 38 cysteine residues that constitute more than 10% of the amino acid content. All members have signal peptides and appear to be secreted via orthodox secretory pathways (Bradham, D. M., (1991) J. Cell. Biol. 114, 1285-1294). In the context of diabetic nephropathy, it is intriguing that CTGF which is up-regulated in the presence of ambient glucose, in turn, up-regulates the production of extracellular matrix (ECM). These data demonstrate the potential of CTGF as a stimulus for increased ECM synthesis and mesangial expansion in diabetic nephropathy.

EXAMPLE 3 Enhanced CTGF Expression in Renal Cortex and Isolated Glomeruli of Rats with STZ-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy

To assess CTGF expression in diabetic nephropathy in vivo, CTGF mRNA levels were measured in RNA isolated from the cortex of rats with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus. To this end, PCR primers for rat CTGF were designed from the sequence of the mouse CTGF homologue, fispl2 (Genbank/EMBL accession no. M70642, sense: CTAAGACCTGTGGAATGGGC (SEQ ID NO: 15); antisense: CTCAAAGATGTCATTGTCCCC (SEQ ID NO: 16)) (Ryseck, R. P., (1991) Cell Growth Differ. 2, 225-233).

RT-PCR was performed on total RNA extracted from renal cortex of STZ-diabetic rats and age matched controls. The sequence of the rat CTGF transcript was 94% identical at the nucleotide level (FIG. 4) and 99% identical at the amino acid level (FIG. 5) to the mouse CTGF homologue fispl2 (bases 783-1123, accession no. M70642). Nucleotides that differ between the two species are given in upper case and the single different amino acid is in bold.

Induction of CTGF mRNA was observed in the renal cortex of rats with STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy at four months after administration of STZ, coincident with mesangial expansion and proteinuria as shown in FIG. 6 and data not shown.

FIG. 6 depicts ethidium-stained panels of a 2% (w/v) agarose gel containing 10 μl of each PCR reaction after electrophoresis. CTGF and GAPDH mRNA levels were analysed in total RNA purified from 2 diabetic animals with established nephropathy after four months of diabetes (lanes 1 and 2) and two age matched control animals (lanes 3 and 4).

CTGF expression was further localized to glomeruli by RT-PCR analysis of RNA extracted from glomeruli isolated by differential sieving from the renal cortex of rats with STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy. Glomerular levels of CTGF mRNA were increased by 2.5-fold and 1.6-fold after two months and four months of diabetes, respectively, by comparison with age and sex-matched controls. The significance of these observations is further supported by a recent report demonstrating CTGF expression in a screen of human renal diseases including diabetic nephropathy (Ito, Y., et al. (1998) Kidney Int. 53, 853-861).

EXAMPLE 4 Induction of Mesangial Cell CTGF Expression by High Glucose Involves TGF-β1 Dependent and Independent Pathways

It has been shown that TGF-β1 is a stimulus for mesangial matrix accumulation in diabetic nephropathy. In our experimental model as described in Example 1, high glucose concentrations provoked induction of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in cultured human mesangial cells over the same temporal framework as CTGF expression (data not shown).

To assess the role of TGF-β1 as a stimulus for CTGF expression in response to high glucose, cells were incubated in either 5 mM glucose or 30 mM glucose plus 1 μl/ml anti-TGF-β1 antibody for seven days with three changes of medium. Cells were serum starved for 24 hr in RPMI 1640 and 0.5% FBS. 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 (Calbiochem) or 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 preadsorbed with 1 μg/ml neutralising anti-TGF-β1 polyclonal antibody were subsequently added for 24 hr.

The role of PKC on CTGF expression in response to high glucose was investigated by culturing the mesangial cells in either 5 mM, 30 mM glucose or 30 mM glucose and the PKC inhibitor GF 102903X.

FIG. 7 is an autoradiograph of CTGF mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot and depicts the results obtained when mesangial cells were exposed to TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) for 24 hr in the presence (lane 3) and absence (lane 2) of anti-TGF-β1 neutralising antibody (1 μg/ml). Cells cultured in RPMI 1640 and 0.5% FBS for 24 hr served as control (lane 1). A 2.4 kb band was detected following hybridisation to the CTGF probe. The blot was stripped and reprobed with GAPDH. The relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification (FIG. 8). Values were normalised to GAPDH levels and the results are representative of two independent experiments.

These results indicate that TGF-β1 is a potent inducer of increased CTGF mRNA levels under these conditions. This effect was inhibited by the addition of a neutralising anti-TGF-β1 antibody as depicted in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an autoradiograph of CTGF mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot and depicts the results obtained when mesangial cells were exposed to 5 mM glucose (lane 1), 30 mM glucose (lane 2) and 30 mM glucose in the presence of anti-TGF-β1 neutralising antibodies (1 μg/ml) (lane 3) for seven days. A 2.4 kb band was detected following hybridisation to the CTGF probe. The blot was stripped and probed with GAPDH. The relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification (FIG. 10). Values were normalised to GAPDH levels.

The neutralising anti-TGF-β1 antibody partially attenuated the glucose-induced increase in CTGF transcript level in mesangial cells grown in 30 mM glucose for 7 days (FIG. 9), suggesting that high glucose triggers mesangial cell CTGF expression through TGF-β1-dependent and independent pathways.

FIG. 11 is an autoradiograph of CTGF mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot and depicts the results obtained when mesangial cells were exposed to 5 mM glucose (lane 1), 30 mM glucose (lane 2) and 30 mM glucose in PKC inhibitor GF102903X (10 μM) (lane 3) for four days. A 2.4 kb band was detected following hybridisation to the CTGF probe. The blot was stripped and probed with GAPDH. The relative amount of CTGF mRNA as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification (FIG. 12). Values were normalised to GAPDH levels.

Whereas the PKC inhibitor GF102903X was without effect on TGF-β1-induced CTGF expression in our system (data not shown), this compound afforded partial inhibition of high glucose-induced CTGF expression (FIG. 11).

CTGF shares some of the biological actions of TGF-β I such as stimulation of cell proliferation and extracellular matrix protein synthesis in fibroblasts. When considered in this context, our results suggest that TGF-β1 may promote mesangial matrix production, in part, by inducing CTGF synthesis. TGF-β1 has a complex profile of biological activities that includes pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. By targeting CTGF it may be possible to attenuate the sclerosis-inducing effects of TGF-β1 while preserving its more desirable anti-inflammatory activities.

EXAMPLE 5 Further Characterisation of IHG-2

IHG-2 is a mesangial cell gene which we have identified as being induced in human mesangial cells by high extracellular glucose as described in Example 1. To further characterise this gene, IHG-2 was searched against the dbEST using the BLAST algorithm. This search identified a clone that was 94% identical to ESTAA071138, clone no: 530117 3′. The sequence for the 5′ end of this clone was also in the database, which again identified multiple ESTs. These ESTs showed homology with the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of a rat cDNA clone known as drm/Gremlin. As indicated above, gremlin/drm, together with DAN and cerberus, are members of the cysteine knot super-family which includes TGFβ and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). A second EST W48852, clone no:324951 3′, was identified from the IHG-2 BLAST. The 5′ end of this clone, EST W48619, was also searched against the database, from which EST AA373348 was obtained. This clone showed homology with the drn 3′ UTR, approximately 500 bp from the open reading frame (ORF). Thus, it was possible to make a direct link from IHG-2 to within 500 bp of the ORF of drm/gremlin. Therefore, by establishing a link between EST AA37348 and the ORF of dmm/gremlin, it was confirmed that IHG-2 is part of the 3′ UTR of this gene. Primers were designed to recognise the ORF, IHG-2, and the EST clone AA373348. An initial PCR using primers corresponding to the start site of the gremlin/drm gene together with a primer within the IHG-2 clone would give a predicted product of approximately 2.5 kb. This product was nested with primers corresponding to the 3′ end of the ORF of gremlin and the EST clone AA373348, generating a product of approximately 500 bp, thus verifying that this EST is in the UTR of the human drm/gremlin gene. Therefore, IHG-2 was found to be part of the drm/gremlin gene, which was not previously known (FIG. 13).

EXAMPLE 6 Use of Cloning In-Silico Coupled with PCR to Demonstrate that IHG-2 is Part of the 3′ Untranslated Region of Gremlin

In Example 5 we describe the identification of a transcript, IHG-2, the sequence of which did not show homology against the cumulative database of characterised sequences using the BLAST algorithm.

Bioinformatic analysis was carried out as follows:

Database searching and alignments were performed at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Bethesda, Md., U.S.A. using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool Algorithm (BLAST) (Altschul, S. F., et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 3389-3402). The Non Redundant (nr) and the Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) databases were sourced. Contiguous sequences were generated using Fragment Assembly, a program within the Genetics Computer Group Inc. package. UniBlast (Guffanti, A., and Simon, G., Trends in Genetics, 14, 293) was used to identify homologous clusters within the UniGene database and to verify the consensus sequence derived from ESTs. Chromosomal localization data were obtained from the UniGene and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases.

To further characterise the sequence, the sequence of IHG was searched against the EST database where a number of matches were obtained. Each of these matches was, in turn, searched against the nr database at NCBI. Four ESTs, namely W52686, N28395, H80042, and W47324, showed low homology to the 3′ UT region of the rat gene drm referred to in Example 5. The ORF of the human homologue of this gene, gremlin, was also in the database.

To generate a link between the ORF of gremlin and IHG-2, successive BLAST searches were used to identify overlapping sequences in the EST database.

However, it was not possible to directly link IHG-2 to the ORF of gremlin with sequences within the EST database. Therefore, RNA isolated from human mesangial cells was reverse transcribed with a primer that recognises IHG-2. PCR analyses were performed spanning the regions shown in FIG. 13.

In this graphical representation of a BLAST output from the EST database, the thick bar of 4 kb represents the final composite sequence of the gremlin gene. Each of the other bars represents an individual sequence, in the EST database, that were assembled, where possible, into continuous sequences, and demonstrates how cloning in-silico was used to generate the contiguous sequence. The region of no EST overlap was generated by reverse transcription of human mesangial mRNA with a complementary primer to IHG-2. PCR was performed spanning the regions indicated (by arrows), and the resulting products were sequenced, allowing a contiguous cDNA of 4049 bp to be generated which included the open reading frame of gremlin and IHG-2.

Human gremlin and rat drm cDNAs were compared and FIG. 14 shows a graphical representation of an alignment between rat drm and human gremlin together with the region corresponding to IHG-2 using the BLAST algorithm. Sequence homology was found to be high in the coding region of the cDNA; however, there are only small regions of homology within the 3′ UT region. This explains why IHG-2 did not identify drm in a BLAST search, but a match to drm, and thus gremlin, was obtained by examining EST sequences further. The lack of homology between rat drm and human gremlin probably results from decreased selective pressure on the 3′ UT region of gene homologues to remain the same between species.

FIG. 15 shows the final sequence of human mesangial cell gremlin, indicating the ORF and the region corresponding to IHG-2 (GenBank accession no: AF 110137). Shown are the 5′ and 3′ UT sequence, and the open reading frame (with translation). The boxed region corresponds to the location of IHG-2. At the time of submission, this sequence matched 136 separate EST entries in the EST database. Of these entries, 23.5% were derived from fibroblast libraries; 30% were from bone tissue libraries; and 34% were derived from tumor related libraries. The sequence was also searched against the UniGene database using the UniBlast program. This identified 4 UniGene clusters, Hs.214148, Hs.40098, Hs.114330, and Hs.239507. Two of these clusters, Hs.40098, and Hs.239507, have been mapped to intervals D15S118-144 and D15S144-165 on chromosome 15, respectively. Secretory granule neuroendocrine protein I and the alpha polypeptide of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor have been mapped to either side of these clusters and have also been mapped more specifically to the 15q11-15 interval. Analysis of the OMIM database reveals that the formin gene, which was recently shown to induce gremlin expression in the developing limb bud (Zuniga, A., et al. (1999) supra), is also localised to this interval. Diabetes mellitus with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, or Wolcott-Rallison syndrome, is localised to the 15q11-12 interval (Stewart, F. J., et al., (1996) Clin. Genet. 49, 152-5). In the epiphyseal growth plate, immunohistochemical studies have revealed that BMP-2 and 4 are expressed in proliferating and maturing chrondocytes, suggesting that BMP and its receptors play roles in the multi-step cascade of enchondral ossification (Yazaki, Y., et al., (1998) Anticancer Res. 18, 2339-44). Regulation of gremlin expression may have implications in both of the disease states associated with Wolcott-Rallison syndrome.

EXAMPLE 7 Induction of Mesangial Cell Gremlin Expression In Vitro by High Glucose and Cyclic Mechanical Strain Induce

A) Primary cultures of human mesangial cells were propagated as described in Example 1, except that the medium was supplemented with 5% FBS. Treatment of cultures with glucose was carried out as described in Example 1. Mesangial cells were exposed to either Sm M glucose or 30 mM glucose for seven days.

Northern Blot analysis as described further below was performed on RNA extracted from mesangial cells grown in either 5 mM (‘normal’) or 30 mM (‘high’) glucose using the ORF of gremlin and IHG-2 probes. Both probes detected a 2-fold increase in gene expression under high glucose conditions as depicted in FIG. 16.

All subsequent northern analysis was performed using the ORF of gremlin as a probe.

Northern Blots were performed using formaldehyde denaturation according to standard protocols and quantitated using a phosphorimager (Biorad). PCR products used to generate the probes for northern analysis were amplified using primers for the open reading frame (ORF) of gremlin (sense: ATGAGCCGCACAGCCTACAC (SEQ ID NO: 17); antisense TTAATCCAAATCGATGGATATGC (SEQ ID NO: 18)), and for IHG-2 (sense: CTCAGCCTCCTAGCCAAGTCC (SEQ ID NO 19); antisense: GTATTGTCCACATTCTCCAAC (SEQ ID NO: 20)). Fibronectin and GAPDH probes were generated as described in Example 2

Specific primers were used to amplify gremlin/IHG-2 (external sense: ATGAGCCGCACAGCCTACAC (SEQ ID NO: 21); external antisense: GTATTGTCCACATTCTCCAAC (SEQ ID NO: 22); internal sense: GAGAGTCACACGTGTGAAGC (SEQ ID NO: 23); internal antisense: AGGAGGATGCAAGCACAGG (SEQ ID NO: 24), BMP-2 (external sense: CGCGGATCCTGCTTCTTAGACGGACTGCG (SEQ ID NO: 25); external antisense: TTTGCTGTACTAGCGACACC (SEQ ID NO: 26); internal sense: CAAGATGAACACAGCTGG (SEQ ID NO 27)), and GCTCAGGATACTCAAGAC (SEQ ID NO: 28)). RT-PCR was carried out as reported as described in Example 3.

The results are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, lane 1 corresponds to the mesangial cells exposed to 5 mM glucose and lane 2 corresponds to the mesangial cells exposed to 30 mM glucose.

FIG. 16 is an autoradiograph of IHG-2 (1), gremlin (2), fibronectin (3) and GAPDH (4) mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot. Two bands of approximately 4.4 kb and 4.6 kb were detected following hybridisation to the gremlin and IHG-2 probes.

FIG. 17 depicts relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification. Values were normalised to GAPDH levels. The results are representative of three independent experiments.

B) Glomerular hypertension is an independent risk factor for the development of glomerulosclerosis in diabetes mellitus (Brenner, B. M., et al. (1982) N. Engl. J. Med. 307, 652-9). To model the effects of glomerular hypertension on mesangial cell gremlin expression in the present study, mesangial cells were propagated under conditions of cyclic mechanical strain for 24 and 48 h in the Flexercell™ System

For the application of mechanical cyclic stretch, primary human mesangial cells were seeded on either flexible or rigid based, elastin coated six-well plates (Flex I and Flex II plates, Flex CelI™ Int, Hillsborough, N.H., USA). Cells were grown to 90% confluency, then serum restricted in Clonetics™ Mesangial Basal Medium supplemented with 0.5% fetal calf serum. Cells cultured on flexible plates were subjected to repeated cycles of computer-controlled, vacuum-driven mechanical stretch and relaxation using the Flexercell Strain Unit FX-2000 (Flexercell™). Cells were alternately stretched and relaxed at 0.5 sec intervals (60 cycles/min) for either 24 or 48 h. The applied vacuum achieved a 17% elongation of the outer annulus of the culture plates. All experiments were carried out at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ in a humidified incubator.

The results were obtained from three diabetic rats, 14 weeks following onset of diabetes and from three age matched controls.

The model used perturbs mesangial cell matrix production and metabolism in a manner similar to that observed in diabetic glomerulosclerosis in vivo. Mesangial cell gremlin mRNA levels were significantly enhanced under conditions of mechanical strain, in parallel with increased fibronectin mRNA expression as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 mesangial cells in culture were grown under static conditions (lane 1) or during exposure to cyclic stretch for 24 h (lane 2) or 48 h (lane 3) using the Flexercell™ System.

FIG. 18 is an autoradiograph of gremlin(1), fibronectin(2) and GAPDH(3) mRNA analysed by Northern Blot.

In FIG. 18 the lanes represent the following:

-   -   Lane 1: Mesangial cells grown in culture under static         conditions;     -   Lane 2: Mesangial cells grown in culture during exposure to         cyclic stretch for 24 h; and     -   Lane 3: Mesangial cells grown in culture during exposure to         cyclic stretch for 48 h.

FIG. 19 depicts relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification. Values were normalised to GAPDH levels.

To assess gremlin expression in diabetic nephropathy in vivo, gremlin mRNA levels were measured by Northern Blot analysis with RNA isolated from the renal cortex of control rats and from diabetic rats 14 weeks after induction of diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin (STZ). In keeping with the in vitro experiments reported above, gremlin mRNA levels were increased in kidneys from diabetic rats, coincident with proteinuria and histologic evidence of diabetic nephropathy (data not shown).

Nine Male Munich-Wistar uninephrectomized rats were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin, and the RNA extracted as described in Example 3.

The results are shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, which show gremlin mRNA levels in renal cortex of STZ-diabetic rats.

FIG. 20 is an autoradiograph of gremlin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex of a STZ-diabetic rat (lane 2) and an age matched control (lane 1) analysed by Northern Blot. A band of approximately 4.4 kb was detected following hybridisation to the gremlin probe.

FIG. 21 depicts relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification. Values were normalised to GAPDH levels.

EXAMPLE 8 Regulation of Mesangial Cell Gremlin Expression by High Glucose: Evidence for Involvement of TGF-β1

As indicated above, both high ambient glucose concentrations and cyclic mechanical strain provoke TGF-β1 production by mesangial cells in vitro and TGF-β1 appears to be a major stimulus for mesangial matrix accumulation in diabetic glomeruli in vivo. To probe the mechanism by which high glucose triggers gremlin expression, primary human mesangial cells were propagated in 5 mM or 30 mM glucose in the presence and absence of anti-TGF-β1 neutralising antibody (1 μg/ml). Treatnent of cultures with glucose and anti-TGF-β1 were as described in Example 1 and Example 4, respectively. To assess the role of TGF-β1 as a stimulus for gremlin expression, cells were serum restricted for 24 h in MCDB 131 and 0.5% FBS and subsequently treated with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1. MCDB131 is a specialised medium for the growth of mesangial cells and is obtained from Clonetics.

Initial studies had indicated that TGF-β1 neuturalizing antibody (data not shown) blunted glucose-triggered gremlin expression and therefore the ability of TGF-β1 to alter gremlin expression was investigated. The results are shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.

The addition of exogenous human recombinant TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml, 24 h) to serum restricted (24 h) mesangial cells also augmented gremlin mRNA levels, suggesting that high glucose enhances gremlin mRNA expression, at least in part, through its ability to stimulate TGF-β1 expression. In aggregate, these observations suggest the presence of a novel autocrine loop through which TGF-β1 induces gremlin gene expression and may thereby regulate the activity of mesangial-derived BMPs as hereinafter described.

It was found that gremlin expression in response to high glucose (30 mM, 7 days) was reduced in the presence of anti-TGF-β1 antibody (data not shown). To further probe the role of TGF-β1 as a modulator of gremlin expression, mesangial cells were exposed to TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) for 24 h (lane 2). Cells cultured in MCDB131 and 0.5% FBS for 24 h served as a control (lane 1).

FIG. 22 is an autoradiograph of gremlin (1), fibronectin (2) and GAPDH (3) mRNA levels analysed by Northern Blot.

FIG. 23 shows relative mRNA levels as estimated by Phosphor Imager quantification. Values were normalised to GAPDH levels.

EXAMPLE 9 High Glucose Stress Induces BMP-2, but not BMP-4 Expression in Mesangial Cells

As indicated above gremlin is a putative antagonist of BMP-2 and BMP-4. Specifically, gremlin has been recently reported to form heterodimers with BMPs and thereby antagonise BMP signalling (Hsu, D. R., et al. (1998) supra). In the present study, RT-PCR was employed as an initial assessment of mesangial cell BMP expression.

As an initial assessment of the relationship between gremlin expression and BMP expression, RNA was isolated from mesangial cells grown for 7 days in either 5 mM or 30 mM glucose. Following reverse transcription with random primers, a primary PCR of the ORF of BMP-2 was performed. This product, which was undetectable on an ethidium stained agarose gel after 30 cycles, was nested to give a predicted product of 446 bp. PCR analysis with BMP-4 and GAPDH specific primers gave predicted products of 378 bp and 452 bp respectively.

FIG. 24 depicts representative reactions of 4 independent experiments. 10 μl of each PCR reaction was run on 1% ethidium bromide stained agarose gels.

Whereas little or no BMP-2 mRNA was detected in mesangial cells propagated in 5 mM glucose, a marked induction of BMP-2 expression was observed in cells cultured in 30 mM glucose as shown in FIG. 24.

In contrast, BMP-4 expression levels were relatively unchanged. Interestingly, whereas BMP-2 does not stimulate fibronectin expression in mesangial cells in vitro, BMP-2 has been recently shown to block mesangial cell proliferation triggered by epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor (Ghosh Choundhury, G., et al., (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 10897-902; Ghosh Choudhury, G., et al., (1999) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 258, 490-6). Our results raise the possibility that TGF-β1 stimulated expression of gremlin may contribute to mesangial cell proliferative responses in this setting. The influence of gremlin on cell proliferation appears complex, however, and may vary markedly depending on the cell-type and proliferative stimulus. In contrast to the aforementioned potentially pro-proliferative actions, over-expression of the gremlin homologue, drm, causes apoptosis in fibroblasts by an ERK mediated pathway, while cells transformed with oncogenes such as v-mos show suppressed drn expression (Topol, L. Z., et al., (1997) Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 4801-10). Similarly, over-expression of DAN, another cysteine knot super-family member with homology to drm/gremlin, retards fibroblast entry into S phase (Ozaki, T., et al., (1995) Cancer Res. 55, 895-900).

In summary, our results demonstrate that the DAN family member gremlin is induced in diabetic nephropathy in vivo and implicate both metabolic and hemodynamic stress as stimuli for gremlin expression.

The findings that high glucose-triggered gremlin expression is mimicked by addition of exogenous TGF-β1, blunted by anti-TGF-β1 neutralising antibody, and occurs in association with induction of mesangial cell BMP-2 suggests the presence of a novel autocrine loop which may limit the bioactivity of TGF-β1 superfamily members and modulate mesangial cell proliferation within the diabetic mesangium. The further elucidation of the functional interactions of the DAN family of secreted proteins, such as gremlin, with TGF-β1 superfamily members may shed light on the complex multi-pronged molecular events that perturb cell proliferation and matrix production in diabetic glomerulosclerosis. 

1. A method of diagnosing and determining the progression of diabetic nephropathy which comprises, culturing mesangial cells in a medium in the presence of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce differential expression of a gene susceptible to such differential expression; identifying the gene so induced by suppression subtractive hybridization; and using said gene as a diagnostic marker for the progression and presentation of diabetic nephropathy.
 2. A method of identifying drugs for use in the prevention and/or therapy of diabetic nephropathy which comprises, culturing mesangial cells in a medium in the presence of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce differential expression of a gene susceptible to such differential expression; identifying the gene so induced by suppression subtractive hybridization; and screening potential drug compounds for an effect on the identified gene or on a protein encoded by said gene.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mesangial cells are cultured in the presence of a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce up-regulation of a gene susceptible to such up-regulation.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of glucose is greater than 5 mM.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mesangial cells are subjected to mechanical strain.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is added to the culture medium.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the possibility of differential expression due to hyperosmolarity is excluded.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the gene so differentially expressed is SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:3.
 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the mesangial cells are cultured in the presence of a concentration of glucose sufficient to induce up-regulation of a gene susceptible to such up-regulation.
 10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the concentration of glucose is greater than 5 mM.
 11. A method according to claim 2, wherein the mesangial cells are subjected to mechanical strain.
 12. A method according to claim 2, wherein transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is added to the culture medium.
 13. A method according to claim 2, wherein the possibility of differential expression due to hyperosmolarity is excluded.
 14. A method according to claim 2, wherein the gene so differentially expressed is SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:3. 